Make-and-break switch



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-S11eet 1. M. MOSKOWITZ.

MAKE .AND BREAK SWITCH.

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MAKE AND BREAK SWITCH. No. 542,772. Patented July 16,1895.

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(No Model.) I s Sheets-Sheet 3. M. MOSKOWITZ. MAKE AND BREAK SWITCH.

No. 542,772. Patented July 16,1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS MOSKOYVITZ, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASS IGNOR TO THE NATIONALELECTRIC CAR LIGHTING COMPANY, OF VEST VIRGINIA.

MAKE-AND-BREAK SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,772, dated July 16,1895.

Application filed April 23, 1895. Serial No. 546,822. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS MOSKOWITZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Make-and-Break Switches;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to a novel form of make-and-break switchfor electrical purposes, which shall be of a simple construction, andwhich is sensitive and efficient'in its operation.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a novel form ofswitch, which is sensitive, delicate, and very efficient in itsoperation, and in which the use of the ordinary mercury-cups, nowemployed in delicate switches of this class, is entirely dispensed with,and

in which the mechanical action to operate the switch is derived directlyfrom an electromagnetic pull. lleretofore electromagnetic switches ofthis class were operated by dip- 0 ping a piece of copper wire intomercury-cups in order to establish or complete the electrical circuit toenable any delicate magnet to perform its work, as it is well known thatthe mercury offers but very little resistance to the entrance of thecopper wires into the mercurybath. These forms of contacts for switches,however, are objectionable, in that the mercury is being constantlyburned away and the copper is oxidized, so that it becomes a poor 0conductor. Other constructions, such as the ordinary hand-switch, havebeen devised, but this construction requires a powerful electromagnet tooperate the same, and which would have to be so large as to make afailure of the 4 5 construction from a practical and commercialstandpoint.

In my present construction of switch I use a small commutator andbrushes, much of the same construction employed in small electric 5omotors, with the brushes adjusted so that two opposite brushes will restagainst two oppositely-placed commutator-sections which are electricallyconnected and establish a complete circuit for the flow of the currentwhen the commutator has been partially rotated by the action of ashunt-magnet and its armature-bar mechanically connected with the com mut-ator.

The invention, therefore, consists in the novel construction ofmake-and-break switch, 69 and also in the details of construction andarrangements and combinations of parts, such as will be hereinafterfully described, and finally pointed out in the clauses of.the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters ofreference are em ployed in each of the several figures to indicate likeparts, Figure 1 is a face view of my novel form of make-andbreak switch,illustrating the parts thereof in their normally inoperative positions,and Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 1, with the parts in their operated positions whencontact is made. Fig.

4 is a cross-section of the commutator, illustrating one manner ofelectrically connecting the opposite commutator-sections, and Fig. 5

is a similar viewillustrating a different manner of connecting thecommutator-sections. Fig. 6 is a side view of the switch when theseveral parts are in their normal positions indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 7is a like View of the switch with the parts in the positions illustratedin said Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is a detail view of a sensitivespring-contact used in connection with the apparatus.

In said drawings, A is a suitable board or base to which is secured mynovel form of make-and-breakswitcl1. The samecomprises therein asuitable high-resistance or shunt 9o magnet CL and a series magnet a,having the usual forms of magnetic cores a and a respectively, and areconnected by the cross plates or pieces a and a at the top and bottomand a rod or post a substantially as 5 shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Journaledto a post or standard I) on said base Ais the armature I), provided withthe contacts b and-b respectively, which are adapted to establishelectrical contact with the ends of the cores a and a as will be clearlyevident. On the free end of said bar or armature I) is an arm I) havinga spring I)", which is normally in electrical contact with asnitable pinor spring contact b as will be seen from an inspec-- tion of Figs. 1 and6. Pivotally connected with the free end ofsaid armature-bar b, by

means of a screw or pin 0', but insulatedtherefrom, as shown, is aconnecting link or rod-c, which is operativelyand. iv t u' cured at itsopposite end, by means of'a pin.

or screw 0 to a small commutator d, which it partially rotates when thearmature-bar 0 is attracted by the electro magnet or magnets,

from each other, by any suitable insulating material d substantiallyastshown, said sec tions d being electrically connected bya suit-vable'connection d asin Figs. 4 and'5, 'orin' any other suitable manner,while the'sections' d are open-circuited, or mother words, there is noelectrical connection between: them. Said sections or segments d'and dare suitably secured between the end. plates d -and d, having a pivotalsupport (1 which is arranged in the bearing-bar d of the frame (1 and ina suitable bearing in the base A, as will be understood from aninspection of Figs. 6 and 7. In sliding contact with the outersurfacesof said sections cl and d are suitable brushes 6 arranged onspring-arms e, which are securely arranged on the ends of suitable postsor standards'e on said base A. Only. two of such contact-brushes e arenecessary to produce an operative make-andbreak switch; but I may usefour, or six, or more, thepurpose of which will be morefully describedhereinafter.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the armaturebarb is connected with the usualform of tension-spring f and the adjusting-screws f and f The'contact bon the barb is also adj ustably. arranged thereon bybeing secured to anadjusting-screw b and thenut b 'on said screw; On the top of thesaidarmature-bar b I have also-secured asmall shunt-magnetg, the end g ofwhichis-normallybroughtagainst two spring-arms h and h, secured to thebase A by screws 71. each arm being provided with slightlyprojectingcontacts 71 which are forced against the contacts h on the springarms7L5 and h, secured to the baseA by means of thescrewsh as will beclearly seenfrom Figs. 1, 3, and 8. Said arms1h and h audit and h aresuitably connectedby-a resistance coilt' and Wires (notshown in the'present case) connecting the same with the commuta tor d for the purposeOfoVercoming'anypOssibility of sparking when the brushes 6 pass fromvthe sections d to the sections d or'from the sections d to the sectionsd.

I will now describe the operation of' the parts comprising my novelform'of make-andbreakswitch. It is briefly as follows:

I have illustrated my novel form of switch in connection with asecondary battery'k, and it is designed-to makeor complete the circuitwhen the electro motive forceof thedynamo The current fiowsin' thedirection of the arrows, coming in at the binding-post x, and followsthe circuit 1 1 to the pin or spring-contact b thence-by the spring band arm 11 through the armature-bar 1), wire 2, into the magnetic-coilforming the shunt-magnet a,

and out by the circuit-wires 3 4t to the binding=post"a;' to thesourceof electrical energy.

The shunt-magnet a immediately energizes the core a and. causes thecontact b on the bar I)" to make electricalcontact with said magneticcore a The operation of the link c in partly rotatingthecommutator (1causes a' closed circuit through the commutatorsections,-atrthe sametime breaking the contact between the p'in b and thespring-contact 19 asshown inFigs. 3 and 7, and the main circuit between-the main source ofelectricity. and a battery 70 or other electrical appliances in thecircuit'5 5, connected'with the bindingsposts 00 and 00 and with thebinding posts as, is then closedthrough the series magnet a. The currentnow flows in the direction of the arrows through the circuit-wires 1 6to oneoffthe brush-arms e and its brush, through theelectrically-connectedcommutator-sections d ,.to thezopposite brush eand its arm e, into the circuit-wire 7 to the coil on theseriesmagnet'a. The currentthen passes through said coil and outinto thecircuit-wire 8 into-the binding-poster thence through the circuit'5 5into the batteryk, and finally to the binding-posts 00 from which itpassest'o the 1 post so and out','back' to the original'source ofelectricity. Thusit will'beseen that while the shunt-:magnetahasnow'beencut out of circuit, the contact b on the armature-barb is held. by themagnetic core a in the series magnet a and the circuit is stillcomplete. The: series: magnet a being. of insufficient strength toattract the armature-barb in the first place,zbeing controlled byamperes'instead of volts, as is the case with the shunt magnet a, itwill be seen that said shuntmagnet must. be out. out of circuit;otherwise it'will still holdon to the armature-bar b, when the voltageofthe dynamo in the main circuit equals that of the battery. \Vhenthis-happens it becomes. necessary that the make-andbreak switch shouldbe open, which itcouild not do and would not do if the shuntmagneta werestill in an unbroken circuit, but'whichit will do with the series magnetincircuit. Assoon as'th'e connection is-again broken between the seriesmagnet and the bar I), all the parts returnfromi their operatedpositions, illustrated in Fig. 3, to their normally inoperativepositions, (illustratedin Fig. 1,) and? contact is again establishedbetween the springpin-b and'the springb, connected with the barb, as;will b'e'clearly understood,

I As shown in Fig. 1, the small shunt-magnet g on the armature-bar b isin a shunt-circuit 9 9 connected with the binding-posts a: and co and isintended as a safeguard.

If through any cause whatever the tensionspring f should not act towithdraw the bar I) from its contact with the series magnet ct, andthere should be a reaction of current from the battery to the dynamo inthe main circuit, then the current would become reversed in the seriesmagnet, changing the polarity of its magnetic core a and the resultwould prove a serious one. To avoid this the small shuntmagnet g hasbeen used. This magnet being in a shunt-circuit the current through themagnet cannot be reversed, and hence its polarity will not becomechanged. Should the polarity in the series magnet a become changed theresult will be that the polarity of the contact 71 which is part of themagnetic core of the electromagnet g, will be the same as the polarityof the upper portion of the core a in the series magnet a, and theresult will bethat these like poles will immediately repel each other.This will cause the armature l) to be held away from the series magnet auntil again attracted by the current controlling the action of theshunt-magnet Ct.

My novel form of make-and-break switch is especially adapted in systemsfor lighting trains by electricity generated from a dynamo on acar-wheel axle, in which the dynamo armature is subject to reversal ofrotation and varying speed; but the operation of the apparatus need notbe further described here in connection with the dynamo when used inthis manner,it being my intention and purpose to use the apparatus inany system of electrical wiring and appliances arranged therein to whichit is applicable.

It is obvious that the precise form and arrangements of the parts hereinshown are not essential to the present invention, and they may be variedwithout departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do notlimit myself to the exact arrangements and combinations of the partsherein shown, claiming, broadly, the arrangement of an elec tromagnetand armaturebar operating a commutator to establish a complete circuitthrough a working-circuit to produce a sensitive and very delicateconstruction of makeand-break switch.

As has been previously stated, I may use more than two brushes 6 andarms 6 in connection with the commutator d, as will be clearly seen fromFig. 1, which can be arranged in other circuits, as 10, 11, &c., and inwhich are arranged electrical translating devices to be controlled bythe action of the m ake-and-break switch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a make andbreak switch, an electromagnet in shunt circuit and an electro-magnet inseries, and a commutator controlled by said shunt magnet to establish acomplete circuit through said series magnet and out said shunt magnetout of circuit, said commutator comprising therein, commutator sections(2' which are open-circuited, and commutator sections (1 which areelectrically connected, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a make and break switch, an electromagnet in shunt circuit, anelectro-magnctin series, a combined armature bar, a commuta tor, and alink connection between said armature bar and commutator to establish acomplete circuit through said series magnet and out said shunt magnetout of circuit, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a make and break switch, an electromagnet in shunt circuit, anelectro-magnet in series, a combined armature bar, a commutator, and alink connection between said armature bar and commutator to establish acomplete circuit through said series magnet and cut said shunt magnetout of circuit, said commutator comprising therein, commutator sections(1' which are open-circuited, and commutator sections d which areelectrically connected, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a make and break switch, an electromagnet in shunt circuit, anelectro-magnet in series, a combined armature bar, a commutator, andmeans connecting said commutator with said armature bar to establish acomplete circuit through said series magnet and out said shunt magnetout of circuit, and a shunt magnet g on said armature bar in a shuntcircuit, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a make and break switch, an electromagnet in shunt circuit, anelectronnagnet in series, a combined armature bar, a commutator, andmeans connecting said commutator with said armature bar to establish acom plete circuit through said series magnet and out said shunt magnetout of circuit, a shunt magnet g on said armature bar in shunt circuit,spring contacts hh and 7L27L3, and a resistance coil, all arranged,subtantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 18th day of April, 1895.

MORRIS MOSKOWITZ.

Witnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, W M. H. OAMmnLu, Jr.

